Survival in alternate Earth

Sunshine shone over her head and made her sigh. "The weather is getting worse by day." Her world was dying. The Earth from fifty years ago is not the same like now. She glanced at the dome over her head that started closing the covers as the sunlight became brighter. It's been now hundred years since humans destroyed nature so far that they had to live in domes. Water from oceans was put into huge containers and used every day for various things. Including air. Even though they had many trees and plants in domes, they had to supplement air with oxygen. She sighed as she stood in long line of people that waited for their share of food and water. "It's less than last week." Everyone gruntled. Some started whispering as they were leaving and Fran was right behind them and listened to their words. She loved rumors. She never spoke further, but she was interested to hear as she found out many good things. "I heard we will leave planet completely soon. Last resources of water will be used to travel to our Mars base. From there we can travel to other planets." Fran smirked. What a lie. Going to Mars? Impossible. The needed fuel is already finished and using solar planes they could transport people only to the space stations that had troubles as well. "Did you hear something else? I heard they found way to open gates to other planets. But some of new the connections are quite unstable and you might end up on one of the moons. How scary." A man spoke about it and shook in fear. "I would use that only if there is no other way. The researchers are still testing the gates and I heard many already passed with families just fine on those that are tested in advance. But, the connection takes lots of energy and they plan to keep on using the gate for anyone who wants to try." The group became larger as they explained and everyone had questions. Fran as well. Families had usually more chance to get transported to other places than single people like she is. Her mother died by birth from complications and her father remarried and left Earth without even thinking about taking her with him. She was alone, but she wanted to live. There is no such a thing as wish to give up. Deep in thoughts she entered one of dorms and entered her cubicle she shared with other three girls. At least they are only four in one cubicle. In some cubicles there are more people, even though there are only four beds. She glanced at her thin cover and sighed. It's time she did some trade as she needed new clothes as well. She opened her space ring and glanced at the tiny space she had. These things could carry only dead things and all Earthlings had it. Strangely, these things didn't work in space or on other planets. Space radiation harmed the space items as soon they left Earth sphere. She gathered all the space items she could find. Space necklace, space belt, five space rings and three space armbands. But she used only one as she didn't have many things on her own. Two advanced corn seeds, three mutant tree seeds, two multi vegetable seed and only one seed from protein plant they called Hora. Scientists had to find way to feed human population after animals died large numbers. After many tries they finally invented plant that grew fast, but died fast as well. It lived only one season and they had to gather Hora's seeds every year to plant. But not many knew, Hora started changing lately so Fran took last season seed from one of gardeners in exchange for multi vitamin pill. She was one of simple workers that dug tunnels deep under Earth, searching for any fuel they could use to travel to space. Even Earth core became lately cold and the changes were quite strong for many weaker people. Fran thought about it and glanced at vitamin pills she got from her uncle before he left as well. Well, he was just old friend of her mother, but he cared about her. Unfortunately military refused to sign her in as his daughter and he had to leave with other gardeners. At that time he slipped few bottles of vitamins to her. "Exchange it for trip to Mars. We will always have bed ready for you." Even his wife cried bitter tears before leaving and she sighed. Determination flared in her eyes. She knew she couldn't enter any of the space ships anytime soon. Families go first. But maybe the experimental gates? With smile she packed the old blankets, her pillow and went to exchange office. "I need thermal set." Clothes were now more important. Thermal set could help her survive extreme heat or extreme coldness. She moved her hand over the scanner and sighed. All her working points she saved in last five years were spent on this thermal set. The man rose his eyebrows and pointed at hand gloves, shoes and head protection. "Five thousand working points or ten vitamins." With pout she glanced at him. "Never mind. I'm not crazy. Vitamin pill is now two thousand points. Giving you ten pills makes no sense." He gaped at her and then coughed. It seems she knew real worth. "Fine. Then three." "I'll give you four, but give me the better quality. The one that came out recently." She smiled brightly at him and he got stunned. She really knew. "Deal." He opened big box and took out whole new set with grudge in his heart. He actually planned gifting this special set to one of females he met shortly. It seems he must order another one. "Something else?" "Yes. I'll give you two more pills if you give me me the wound cream they made recently. The red one." She saw him almost exploding and almost laughed. Rumors are great thing. She found out about these things just the way she found out about the experimental gates. Trough rumors. With that she went to research center and met one of researchers she knew from her uncle. "Fran, you came here." He rubbed his tiered red eyes. "Sorry I can't send you now, military sends only families." "I heard you are looking for people that would go trough experimental gates." She took whole bottle of vitamins and he paled. He glanced around and whispered. "Those gates are unstable and some people disapeared. We don't know are they on other planets or did they disintegrate in space continuum." Even if he warned her, he saw her determination and accepted the vitamins. Those are needed only here. Outside they had better ones. He thought about fifty or so pills and felt bad. She could survive for dozens of years with those supplements. One pill is half year worth of vitamins or minerals. An idea popped in his head. "I can ask my friend to give you a program. And we can enlarge your space to twenty square meters. That amount not even commander has. But I'll do it for you." A program! Like one of those science fiction books from old times? Well they did invent space accessories... With curiousity she agreed and walked behind him..She already out thermal suit on that looked just like casual clothes everyone had. The new thermal suit had nano cells that can change appearance. So no one knew what she wore. She glanced at her wrist and sighed. Let's hope her armband will work in other place. Wait, didn't they say they don't work in outer space? Was it a lie? But why? With thousand questions in her mind she was pushed into expansion pod and just moment later pulled out. "So fast?" But the man hurried with her and whispered. "Don't speak and just line behind others. There is group of people that were specially chosen to go trough experimental gate. Just be silent and go trough it when they show you sign. Be careful and all the luck." She nodded and stood behind two dozen of people that had various bags in their hands. She summoned her bag she planned using anyway that had all her stuff and slowly walked behind everyone. No one noticed anything strange and moved volunteers quickly. But when most of the people passed the energy started lessening and they started warning. "We have energy only for three people, but the gate is unstable. We don't know where it will send you. Anyone willing to pass now?" This was her only chance, she knew that next time they will check more as more people got interested in new transportation. She saw everyone thinking about it and being reluctant and stepped forward silently. Everyone knew she was risking her life and shook their heads. With calm expression she walked towards gate and saw green on other side. Trees, far and wide trees and buildings. That means it's one of bases? With a smile she nodded and stepped trough the gate. Adventure, here I come...